The report was commissioned by the United Soybean Board. It highlights the economic importance of domestic animal agriculture to South Dakota and to the nation as a whole.

Kim Dillivan, SDSU Extension Crops Business Management Field Specialist, reviewed the report and shares his summary.

For the report, estimated economic impacts were calculated by a modeling process that quantified the effects U.S. animal agriculture has on employment, income and taxes for the entire economy. These include impacts created by all employment connected to the U.S. livestock and poultry industries - including activities from associated industries.

South Dakota’s livestock industry contributed to the economy, based on 2012 data, by the providing the following:

• 29,020 jobs;

• $7.3 billion in total economic output;

• $1.1 billion in household income;

• $235 million in income taxes paid; and

• $149 million in property taxes paid.

“Again, these estimates include impacts from all industries related to animal agriculture and can be directly traced to originating from South Dakota animal agriculture,” Dillivan said. “Essentially, without animal agriculture in South Dakota, the benefits to the state’s economy listed above would cease to exist.”

The report also documented changes in production levels that occurred in animal agriculture from 2002 to 2012 on a state-by-state basis.

In South Dakota over this period, growth has been pronounced for the following industries:

• Milk production increased 52.7 percent;

• Pork production increased 32.4 percent;

• Turkey production increased 22.2 percent; and

• Egg production increased 17.3 percent.

“A common reason for production increases in U.S. agriculture has been technological advances. However, according to this report, increases in South Dakota livestock and poultry production occurred while other states lost production,” Dillivan said. “Another would be access to feed.”